Jameson on the rocksat UCT

26 March 2015 - 02:15 By Farren Collins

The name of Jameson Hall, as well as other buildings and symbols, is to be reviewed as part of the University of Cape Town's transformation process, vice chancellor Max Price told students and academics last night. Price confirmed that the university leadership would propose on April 15 that the Cecil John Rhodes Statue be moved from upper campus."There will also be a review of buildings, statues, names and symbols. Next up is the name of Jameson Hall .... but it will not be helpful if the process is divisive."Last night's tense discussion about transformation began with former student and co-chairman of the assembly Barney Pityana being heckled and told to leave.Students believed Pityana, UCT's president of convocation, did not want the statue to be removed.Student Representative Council president Ramabina Mahapa addressed the audience and called for a review of professors without PhDs and for more black lecturers.Pointing at paintings on the walls of Jameson Hall, Mahapa said: "Look at the four corners. Do you see a black person?"Mahapa also said the vision of the SRC was for an inclusive university."Let's ensure engagements do not manifest into hate and anger," he said.The South African Institute for Race Relations supported the debate."We feel that UCT has the right to decide what it will do with the Rhodes statue and other issues at the university," said a spokesman for the institute."Transformation is, of course, important but it is useless if these same students end up with no jobs, no prospect of getting jobs, and no future."..

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